EC Blog News & Reports

… as usual made the most of their days, giving lectures and empowerments, meditating, getting to know the Europe Center and meeting their students.

On Monday we said goodbye to Lopon Dorji Rinchen Rinpoche. However, the goodbye was kind of easier than expected because Rinpoche had generously accepted Lama Ole’s invitation to come back to the EC as soon as possible – which is actually already next weekend. Lopon will then give the empowerment of the Buddha of Long Life (Skt. Amitayus, Tib. Tsepame) and the Buddha of Limitless Light (Skt. Amitabha, Tib. Öpame) to us.

Lama Jigme Rinpoche took the time to check out the course’s Dharma shops as well the beautiful new statues and thangkas (tibetan scroll paintings) on offer for the Buddhist center’s altars.

On Sunday, Lama Jigme Rinpoche gave the third of three consecutive empowerments to more than 3000 people present at the Europe Center, this time into the first consciously reborn Lama of Tibet, the 2nd Karmapa Karma Pakshi (1204 – 1283).

At the age of 6 Karmapa was able to read and write even though he had not been taught. Later on, he only needed to read a text once in order to fully understand and remember its content. He was a famous Siddha with extraordinary powers and abilities. He had students across Tibet, Mongolia and China.

The Guru Yoga practice of the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi, was envisioned by the Great Tertön, Mingyur Dorje (1645-1667). When Mingyur Dorje was meditating on the protector Black Coat (Tib. Mahakala Bernakchen), in a pure vision the mandala of Karma Pakshi vividly appeared. From this vision, Karma Pakshi transmitted to Mingyur Dorje all the instructions and blessings of this mandala’s practice – a type of “Meditation on the Lama” (Skt. Guru Yoga). Since then, the Karma Pakshi practice became very important to the Karma Kagyu lineage.

In his mandala, Karmapa is shown in the center, surrounded by representations of the “Three Roots” – the Lamas (the root of blessing), the Yidams (the root of accomplishment) and the Protectors (the root of activity). As such, Karmapa embodies or unites these Three Roots. To “establish the mandala” of Karmapa means that we invoke – and then identify with – the Karmapa’s enlightened body, speech and mind. This is what happens in all the methods of Guru Yoga on the Karmapa, such as those associated with the 2nd, 8th, and 16th Karmapas. By opening up to the Karmapa as the essence of all Buddhas, we increasingly recognize the true nature of own awareness, and accomplish Buddhahood.

Lopon Dorji Rinchen Rinpoche kindly offered to give us the empowerment into the Buddha of Limitless Light (Skt. Amitabha, Tib. Öpame) and the Buddha of Limitless Life (Skt. Amitayus, Tib. Tsepame) next Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 1pm.

You are warmly invited to come also spontaneously in case you are not here for the ongoing Summer Course program anyway, of course! More information and registration at http://www.summercourse.ec

Lama Jigme Rinpoche gave the second of three consecutive empowerments at this year’s Summer Course today, that into one of the most important meditation aspects for practitioners of Diamond Way Buddhism – Diamond Mind (Skt. Vajrasattva; Tib. Dorje Sempa), united with his consort Vajragarvi (Tib. Dorje Nyema).

The meditation on Diamond Mind is one of the most powerful methods for purifying imprints in the subconscious that were caused by harmful actions in this and former lives. Through this method, karmic seeds can be purified before they ripen in the form of negative experiences.

Karma means cause and effect, not fate. Everyone is responsible for his or her own life and shapes it through thoughts, words and actions. This understanding makes it possible to consciously generate positive impressions in mind, which lead to happiness and help avoid future suffering.

This meditation practice is part of the Four Preliminary Practices in Vajrayana Buddhism. It is said that a practitioner can achieve enlightenment solely by practicing and completing these meditations. They are the preparation for the following Mahamudra or Guru Yoga practices.

For the first time, Lopon Dorji Rinchen, one of the highest meditation master from the Kingdom of Bhutan, gave an empowerment to more than 3000 people. The Buddha aspect given was that of Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Buddhism in Tibet.

According to legend, Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava, »The Lotus-born«, was not born from a mother’s womb, but appeared as a boy sitting on a lotus flower in the middle of a lake in the land of Oddiyana, which is generally considered to be the area know today as Gandhara.

Padmasambhava’s arrival in the 8th century was predicted by Buddha Shakyamuni himself centuries before. Until today, he is often referred to as the second Buddha of our time and is credited with bringing the tantric teachings to Tibet, Bhutan and the neighboring countries at the request of the Dharma King Trisong Detsen (759–797) .

Guru Rinpoche probably spent around 55 years in the Himalayas, leading countless beings to liberation and enlightenment with his teachings and by the power of his tantric practice. When the Lotus-born returned to India, the Bön religion and black magic practices gained strength again. Buddhism did not spread further until Marpa, the Translator, brought the teachings from India to Tibet for the second time. But it was Guru Rinpoche who many centuries earlier had cleared the way for this to happen.

There are exciting, fascinating and inspiring moments everywhere and all the time at the Summer Course – here’s a miscellaneous selection of some of them captured by our brilliant photographers – we hope you enjoy!

Lopon Dorji Rinchen, a high Lama from the Kingdom of Bhutan, was warmly received by Jigme Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl today. Invited by Lama Ole, Lopon came to give the empowerment into Guru Rinpoche (skt. Padmasambhava).

Lama Ole showed Lopon Dorji Rinchen around the Europe Center, from the stupa via the gompa up to the new building, which he also resides in during his stay. In the evening Jigme Rinpoche gave high teachings in the packed gompa tent.

Lopon Dorji Rinchen is one of the 5 meditation masters of the royal family of Bhutan and a learned Buddhist scholar. With the title Tshoke Lopon, he is the second highest ranked Lopon of the Kingdom of Bhutan. He has been a principal, lecturer, and meditation master at various Buddhist universities in Bhutan.

So how come Lopon could make time to come to Europe despite all his commitments? Actually, it is thanks to the Bhutanese or Tibetan Calendar, which is adjusted every three years by doubling the 7th month. This was the case this year, so Lopon had a whole month extra which he is using to teach in Europe for three weeks! We are very grateful to the Eastern calculation of times for this! :)

Perfect timing – after guiding a session of Guru Yoga, the meditation on the 8th Karmapa, and answering a whole box of questions from his students, Lama Ole was there right on time to welcome his old friend Lama Jigme Rinpoche back to the EC.

We are very honored to have Lama Jigme Rinpoche back with us at the Europe Center. Rinpoche is the official representative of the Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje in Europe and the brother of the late Shamar Rinpoche, the 2nd highest Lama of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche is going to give teachings and two empowerments over the next days.

This course is dedicated to our meditation practice: taking what we have learned “from the head to the bones”. Necessary and inspiring for this practices up front: explanations by a qualified teacher. Therefore, a whole morning was dedicated to these explanations in different languages by our Diamond Way teachers appointed by Lama Ole.

The Tibetan term “Ngöndro” means “something which precedes“. In a direct and very practical way, these preliminary practices of Tibetan Buddhism are methods which allow us, most efficiently, to purify negativity and accumulate merit. They bring forth our fullest potential, while removing the veils which keep us from experiencing and expressing our enlightened nature.

The 9th Karmapa, Wangchug Dorje, gave the four practices of the Chag Chen Ngondro as a preparation to realize the most refined insight of Mahamudra.

The first preliminary, Refuge with Prostrations, aims at clearing away obscurations and accumulating good impressions. The second foundation, the meditation on Diamond Mind (Skt. Vajrasattva, Tib. Dorje Sempa), purifies our speech and mind and develops both merit and insight. In the third practice, Mandala Offerings, wisdom and merit are equally emphasized, while the last foundation, Guru Yoga, primarily develops wisdom.